GRAHAM POLL: the official line! Javier Mascherano's tackle on Gareth Barry is worth a five-match ban

Javier Mascherano should be facing a five-match ban - and he still
may be if the FA disciplinary department work in a consistent manner
after his over-the-top challenge on Manchester City's Gareth Barry in
the drab 0-0 draw against Liverpool at Eastlands on Sunday afternoon.

TV analysts thought that the Argentine should have been dismissed, but only as a result of a second yellow card.

Ouch, that hurts: Mascherano's over-the-top challenge on Barry sends him crashing to the ground in agony. Even though the tackle merited a red card, referee Walton did not even award a free-kick.

In my opinion, it should have been a straight red. But for referee
Peter Walton, not even a free-kick was justified, which surely means he
did not see the incident. Remember that this is the same ref who two
weeks ago had no hesitation in dismissing Manchester United's Nani for
a two-footed lunge in the 1-1 draw at Villa Park.

Mascherano went over the top of the ball with force and into the
side of Barry's leg above the ankle, and the incident is shown clearly
on video evidence which the FA will have studied yesterday.

If they feel that only a yellow card should have been issued, then
they can take no action, saving the Argentine a three-match ban - one
for the dismissal and a further two because it would have been his
third sending-off this season.

If they see the challenge as red, and the charge is proven, then
Liverpool will be without their midfield enforcer for the next five
domestic matches - three games plus one more for each of his two
previous dismissals this season.

Not that Mascherano was alone in escaping the correct punishment
this weekend; Sunderland's Lorik Cana committed probably the worst
tackle when he launched himself at speed, two footed at Arsenal's
Emmanuel Eboue.

Incredibly, the challenge resulted in only a yellow card from Steve
Bennett. And at the DW stadium, Wigan boss Roberto Martinez had every
reason to bemoan his luck after Alan Wiley allowed Tottenham's Jermain
Defoe to escape without censure after his two-footed swipe at Gary
Caldwell.

Defoe had clearly lost his cool and lashed out at the defender which resulted in a free-kick but nothing more.

Two years ago Sportsmail
highlighted horror tackles being missed by referees who cannot rely on
the FA correcting their mistakes with retrospective action.

Hopefully, the last 10 days have been nothing more than a blip
rather than a trend which could mar a fantastic climax to an absorbing
season.